Lincolnshire Voice

The following is a recent letter to the Lincolnshire Echo that wasnt published. We will let readers decide which of the above is correct:

11th September 2010
Lincolnshire Echo
Brayford Wharf East
Lincoln
LN5 7AT

For the Attention of The Editor

Dear Sirs

In the latest edition (now previous version, Ed) of Lincolnshire County Councils propaganda magazine - Inside Lincolnshire, Cllr Martin Hill, our leader, extols the virtues of “third sector” organisations such as charities, community groups, co-operatives and faith groups.

Would this be why the Conservative controlled Lincolnshire County Council helps fund the “Lincolnshire Community Foundation” quango (registered charity number 1092328) that funds the community bank whose successful trustees join a tailored “Common Purpose” Leadership Development course?

Lincolnshire Community Foundation has the following amongst its “sponsors” - Comic Relief, European Social Fund, Lady Neville Foundation, Lloyds TSB Foundation, European Single Regeneration Budget, Lincolnshire Enterprise, East Midlands Development Agency, Regeneration Lincolnshire, Revive and Thrive, Department for Education and Skills, Diocese of Lincoln, Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (via Lincoln City Council), DEFRA, Fair Share Trust, Home Office, Dorothy Chadburn, Garrick Trust, Paul Nicholson Fund, Lankelly Chase Foundation, Godfrey Holmes Foundation and Government Office East Midlands.

The people of Boultham may be interested to know that it was the Lincolnshire Community Foundation, working closely with the Diocese of Lincoln who set up a common fund “Church & Community Lincs” to advise communities and to “facilitate change” refurbishing buildings and changing their use – sound familiar? The chairman of the fund was the Bishop of Grimsby.

What about the “change agent” Common Purpose charity too, which LCC has employed directly for conferences (at LCC offices) and courses for staff. Using the 2009 Freedom Of Information request I made (Ref 08347FOI), I can say this cost a minimum £3198.70 in 2005, £5640 in 2006 and £3084.37 in 2007.

Let us not forget the unelected Lincolnshire Assembly too that Lincolnshire County Council funds with taxpayers money. It is worth noting that another quango Lincolnshire Enterprise – a partner of the Lincs Assembly, commissioned DEMOS - a Marxist think tank, to develop a vision for Lincolnshire!

This is all part of the EU Regionalisation plan (breaking Britain up) and the greater Communitarian agenda, which carries on where Labour left off under the guise of Camerons “Big Society” with the new ConDem regime. Unbeknown to most people, the County Council is a key stakeholder with these developments. Perhaps this is why some people at LCC are on 6 figure salaries.

It is also worth remembering that Lincolnshire County Council increased its public relations bill in 2009 by 91% upto £1.7million, which pays for this propaganda to be produced and distributed. Perhaps if they wish to make cuts, they should start here and stop telling us how good they are and how wonderful things are!

Yours Sincerely

Michael Clayton
Lincolnshire British National Party

We can only surmise that certain elements didnt want this news made public. So much for Cllr Hills own words "local democracy will be strengthened."